Van or Service Body Truck?

[A/A Fuel GTX]

I've been working out of a pick up with a cross bed and side boxes for a long time. I'm looking at a new vehicle fairly soon and was wondering if anyone would care to comment on their preference. I like the service body truck concept with the boxes on the outside of the vehicle but in Jan when it's snowing and 6 degrees outside, the van seems a little more accomodating. Any comments will be appreciated.

 

[radiopet]

Tom,

we have both and I get to choose the one i want....and I chose the VAN...lol....for some reason the guys let the truck get so sloppy and the van is always neat and easy to keep stuff from rusting or getting water on them.

Plus as you said...much nicer in winter.....

 

[Minuteman]

Yeah are easier to take care of and has LOTS of room for a great big LOGO and PHONE NUMBER!

On the down side, I hate having to do any engine on the the van, trucks are so much easier to get under the hood.

 

[bkludecke]

I've had a van and now prefer the service/utility truck bed (we have 3 right now). My guys find them easier to organize and work out of. We do alot of construction as well as sevice work. The construction jobs mean a lot of loading an unloading of lots of matrials which is easier in a truck with an open bed or telescoping top. I do miss the van on some snowy/rainey days but nothing is perffect.

Bob on the left coast.

 

[77401]

It depends on what your doing. I prefer the Dodge magnum SRT.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.motordesktop.com/wallpaper/conceptcars/Dodge%2520Magnum%2520SRT8%2520Concept%25202003%2520-%25201024x768.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.motordesktop.com/wallpaper_conceptcars1.php&h=768&w=1024&sz=178&tbnid=TTKVTtbsmgmXmM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddodge%2Bmagnum&start=2&ei=yFjLRM-zGsac4gHel_j_CQ&sig2=PWrmD9g8T8dIdlIHNCpiTg&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=2
ladders & pipe rack on top. Chrome 20"s Easy to get inot parking garages
No snow here but lots of heat. Most people don't service their own vehicles anymore.
There are some new sevice vans with the bins on the outside & room for big stuff on the inside. I looked into that but it was $10000 more

 

[JohnE]

We have 3 vans, a box truck, and a service body single wheel van. Service body would be my choice for best all around, but all 3 have good and bad points. I think the freightliner/ dodge deisel vans are nice, too, but pretty pricey. Best bang for the buck is a plain old ford or chevy cargo van and set it up they way it fits you.

 

[e57]

Van, easy choice, but now there are choices in them too. I say van, because you wont have can crushers looking for copper in the back of it. You stuff will be dry, and I guess you live closer to winter than I , but cant imagine digging snow out a truck.

There other choices in vans now are cool.
Cut-away vans and service bodies for them, or just the plain box. Roll up the door and walk in. I think thats my next choice, just get a "G-mom's Attic" and put all the ladders in there too. I know a few guys who have 'em, and I am getting jealous. They even have rack and shelves made for them too now, and big enough for an office in the back. Pain to park in the city, but not much longer than a regular full sized van of full sized pick up.

The other choice is the Euro styled Sprinter. Both Dodge and Frieghtliner have them. You can also get them high enough to stand in. And they have racks and shelves for them too.

 

[77401]

The load rating on the Sprinter's tires won't carry my vans weight.
my old chevy vans ate up tires faster it burned oil.
The Ford E-250 is still the old work horse for Value, reliability, No maintanence, style hasn't changed in over 15 years.

 

[e57]

The load rating on the Sprinter's tires won't carry my vans weight.

A 2500 Savana and a 2500 Sprinter are roughly the same at 3262#'s, and 3308#'s respectively. Maybe its time to clean yours out... I know I get mine to eye level all the way across at times.

Oh the diesel Sprinter is 10,000 mile oil changes....

 

[JohnME]

I've got a pickup now with an 8' bed, its great for hauling large items but how the heck do you keep anything organized? Granted I dont have truck boxes but even then it must be a losing battle. If I were doing service calls I would go nuts.

I think ideally I will pickup a utility cap for my truck when I go out on my own, although I cant seem to find much info on the web about them. Anyone here use this method?

 

[hardworkingstiff]

I have had a van now since 1997 (97 GMC 1-ton, then a 2001 Chevy 1-ton). I made my own pull out drawers so I don't have to get in it very often. I use a 5'x12' open trailer to load anything big on it.

I don't like all of the rattles that can be heard when driving.

I don't like that it only holds 2 people safely (seat belts).

I do like that stuff stays dry.

I do like that everything is locked inside.